{"id":596006,"date":"2026-11-09T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/ozone-hole-reaches-its-2026-maximum\/"},"modified":"2026-11-09T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T05:00:00","slug":"ozone-hole-reaches-its-2026-maximum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=596006","title":{"rendered":"Ozone Hole Reaches Its 2026 Maximum"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>Earth Observatory<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 hds-secondary-navigation-has-breadcrumbs\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-breadcrumbs display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-flex flex-align-center\">\n<nav class=\"usa-breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list\">\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/\" class=\"usa-breadcrumb__link\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Science<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\" class=\"usa-breadcrumb__link\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Earth Observatory<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item usa-current\" aria-current=\"page\"><span>Ozone Hole Reaches Its 2026\u2026<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\">\n<nav>\n<ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\">\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth Observatory<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/image-of-the-day\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Image of the Day<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/explorer\/\" rel=\"noopener\">EO Explorer<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Topics<\/span><\/button>\n<ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/topics\/\" rel=\"noopener\">All Topics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/topics\/atmosphere\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Atmosphere<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/topics\/land\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Land<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/topics\/heat-radiation\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Heat &#038; 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Areas at and below 220 Dobson units, the threshold that defines the ozone hole, appear in yellow, orange, and red, and cover a roughly circular region over Antarctica and part of the Southern Ocean. Higher concentrations surrounding it appear in light to dark blue. (opens in a new tab)\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1480\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/ozone-hole-reaches-its-2026-maximum\/ozone_geos5_20260918_hires.jpg?w=1440&amp;h=1480&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1440x1480 size-1440x1480\" alt=\"A map centered on the South Pole shows ozone concentrations on September 18, 2026. Areas at and below 220 Dobson units, the threshold that defines the ozone hole, appear in yellow, orange, and red, and cover a roughly circular region over Antarctica and part of the Southern Ocean. Higher concentrations surrounding it appear in light to dark blue.\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This data visualization shows the area and shape of the ozone hole on September 18, 2026, the day of its annual maximum extent. Scientists define the ozone hole as the area in which ozone concentrations drop below the historical threshold of 220 Dobson units.<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA Earth Observatory\/Lauren Dauphin<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This story is an update to the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/world-of-change\/ozone-hole\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Antarctic ozone hole feature<\/a> in our <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/world-of-change\/\" rel=\"noopener\">World of Change series<\/a>, which documents how Earth changes over months, seasons, and years.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The stratospheric ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet light, which damages DNA in plants and animals (including humans) and leads to sunburns and skin cancer. Prior to 1979, scientists had not observed atmospheric ozone concentrations below 220\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov\/facts\/dobson.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Dobson Units<\/a>. But\u00a0in 1985,\u00a0British Antarctic Survey scientists using ground-based measurements at Halley Research Station <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/315207a0\" rel=\"noopener\">reported<\/a> that Earth\u2019s natural sunscreen was thinning dramatically over Antarctica each spring. NASA satellite instruments revealed the continental scale of this Antarctic ozone thinning, and it came to be known as the ozone hole.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The data visualizations below shows the ozone hole each year from 1979 through 2026 (no data are available for 1995). The measurements were made from 1979-2004 by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earthdata.nasa.gov\/data\/instruments\/toms\" rel=\"noopener\">TOMS<\/a> (NASA\u2019s\u00a0Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer) instruments on Nimbus-7 and several additional satellites; from 2005-2011 by the OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) on the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/aura\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Aura<\/a> satellite; from 2012-2025 by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ozoneaq.gsfc.nasa.gov\/omps\/\" rel=\"noopener\">OMPS<\/a> (Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite) on the Suomi NPP satellite; and in 2026 by the OMPS on the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/jpss\/\" rel=\"noopener\">NOAA-20<\/a> satellite. Red and yellow areas indicate the ozone hole.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the images show, the word hole isn\u2019t literal; no place is empty of ozone. Scientists use the word hole as a metaphor for the area in which ozone concentrations drop below the historical threshold of 220 <a href=\"https:\/\/ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov\/facts\/dobson_SH.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Dobson Units<\/a>. Using this metaphor, they can describe the hole\u2019s area and depth. These maps show the state of the ozone hole each year on the day of maximum depth\u2014the day the lowest ozone concentrations were measured.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-image-carousel grid-container grid-container-block padding-top-4 padding-bottom-4 hds-module alignwide wp-block-nasa-blocks-image-carousel\">\n<div id=\"carousel-wrapper-carousel-6af15c9e90134\" class=\"hds-carousel-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-carousel-slider margin-0\" id=\"image-carousel-slider-carousel-6af15c9e90134\" data-client-id=\"carousel-6af15c9e90134\" data-variation=\"timeline\" data-autoplay=\"\" data-autoplay-speed=\"1000\" data-play-pause=\"1\" data-transition-type=\"none\" data-progress=\"1\" data-progress-labels=\"1\" data-start-label=\"1979\" data-end-label=\"2026\" data-labels-initialized=\"true\">\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1979\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1979.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1979\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1979<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1980\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1980.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1980\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1980<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1981\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1981.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1981\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1981<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1982\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1982.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1982\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1982<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1983\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1983.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1983\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1983<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1984\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1984.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1984\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1984<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1985\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1985.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1985\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1985<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1986\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1986.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1986\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1986<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1987\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1987.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1987\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1987<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1988\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1988.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1988\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1988<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1989\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1989.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1989\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1989<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1990\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1990.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1990\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1990<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1991\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1991.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1991\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1991<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1992\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1992.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1992\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1992<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1993\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1993.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1993\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1993<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1994\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1994.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1994\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1994<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1996\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1996.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1996\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1996<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1997\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1997.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1997\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1997<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1998\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1998.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1998\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1998<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"1999\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_1999.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"1999\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">1999<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2000\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2000.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2000\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2000<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2001\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2001.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2001\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2001<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2002\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2002.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2002\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2002<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2003\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2003.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2003\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2003<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2004\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2004.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2004\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2004<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2005\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2005.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2005\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2005<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2006\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2006.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2006\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2006<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2007\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2007.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2007\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2007<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2008\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2008.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2008\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2008<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2009\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2009.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2009\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2009<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2010\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2010.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2010\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2010<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2011\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2011.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2011\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2011<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2012\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2012.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2012\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2012<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2013\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2013.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2013\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2013<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2014\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2014.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2014\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2014<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2015\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2015.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2015\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2015<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2016\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2016.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2016\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2016<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2017\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2017.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2017\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2017<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2018\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2018.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2018\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2018<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2019\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"510\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_2019.jpg?w=720&amp;h=510&amp;%23038;fit=clip\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2019\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2019<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2020\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_geos5_20201006.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2020\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2020<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2021\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_geos5_20211007.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2021\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2021<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2022\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_geos5_20221001.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2022\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2022<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2023\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_geos5_20231003.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2023\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2023<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2024\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_geos5_20241005.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2024\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2024<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2025\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_geos5_20250925.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2025\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2025<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"display-block width-full\" data-label=\"2026\">\n<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2 hds-object-fit-contain\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/woc\/images\/ozone\/ozone_geos5_20261004.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.web.1280.1280.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"2026\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-date-text p-sm margin-0\">2026<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-carousel-nav display-flex margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" data-carousel-id=\"image-carousel-slider-carousel-6af15c9e90134\">\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-prev\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"play-controls\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-action-button hds-carousel-play\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/button><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-action-button hds-carousel-pause\" style=\"display: none\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-next margin-right-0\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The series begins in 1979. The maximum depth of the hole that year was 194 Dobson Units (DU)\u2014not far below the previous historical low. For several years, the maximum depth stayed in the 190s, but then rapidly grew deeper: 173 DU in 1982, 154 in 1983, 124 in 1985. By 1991, a new threshold was passed, as the ozone concentration fell below 100 DU for the first time. Since then, concentrations below 100 DU have become more common. The deepest ozone hole occurred in 1994, when concentrations fell to just 73 DU on September 30.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Records in depth and area have never occurred in the same year (the largest ozone hole occurred in 2006), but the long-term trend in both characteristics is consistent: from 1980 through the early 1990s, the hole rapidly grew in area and depth. In the early years of the 21st century, annual ozone holes roughly stabilized (see <a href=\"https:\/\/ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA Ozone Watch<\/a>\u00a0for annual averages). Year-to-year fluctuations in area and depth are caused by variations in stratospheric temperature and circulation.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov\/meteorology\/SH.html\" rel=\"noopener\">Colder conditions<\/a>\u00a0result in a larger area and lower ozone values in the core of the hole.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was the case in 2026, when an unusually strong Antarctic polar vortex created ideal conditions for ozone depletion over a large area. Measured by its mean size from September 7 to October 13, which is peak ozone depletion season, the 2026 hole was the <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/2026-ozone-hole\/\" rel=\"noopener\">seventh largest in 48 years of monitoring<\/a>. However, it was not as deep as other large holes on record. The map at the top of this page shows the hole on September 18, the day of its annual maximum area.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ozone hole opened the world\u2019s eyes to the global effects of human activity on the atmosphere. Scientists learned that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)\u2014long-lived chemicals that had been used in refrigerators and aerosol sprays since the 1930s\u2014had a dark side. In the layer of the atmosphere closest to Earth (the troposphere), CFCs circulate for decades without degrading or reacting with other chemicals. When they reach the stratosphere, however, their behavior changes. In the upper stratosphere (beyond the protection of the ozone layer), ultraviolet light causes CFCs to break apart, releasing chlorine, a very reactive atom that\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/svs.gsfc.nasa.gov\/vis\/a000000\/a000800\/a000825\/index.html\" rel=\"noopener\">repeatedly catalyzes ozone destruction<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The global recognition of the destructive potential of CFCs led to the 1987\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.unep.org\/ozonaction\/who-we-are\/about-montreal-protocol\" rel=\"noopener\">Montreal Protocol<\/a>, a treaty phasing out the consumption and production of ozone-depleting chemicals. <a href=\"https:\/\/csl.noaa.gov\/assessments\/ozone\/2022\/twentyquestions\/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20natural%20sources%20contributed%20about%2017%25%20of%20total%20stratospheric%20chlorine%20and%20about%2056%25%20of%20total%20stratospheric%20bromine\" rel=\"noopener\">Scientists estimate<\/a> that about 80 percent of the chlorine in the stratosphere today comes from human, not natural, sources. Human-produced bromine compounds, which are far less abundant but much more destructive to ozone, also contribute to the Antarctic ozone hole.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Models suggest\u00a0that the concentration of chlorine and other ozone-depleting substances in the stratosphere will not return to pre-1980 levels until later in the 21st century. In 2018, <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/2017GL074830\" rel=\"noopener\">scientists reported<\/a> the first direct satellite evidence of ozone recovery, observing a 20 percent decrease in ozone depletion during the Antarctic winter months from 2005 to 2016. In 2019, abnormal weather patterns in the upper atmosphere over Antarctica dramatically limited ozone depletion, leading to the smallest hole since 1982\u2014illustrating the impact of year-to-year variations in the meteorology of the Antarctic stratosphere. Scientists estimate that the Antarctic ozone layer will return to 1980 levels in the 2070s.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using data from <a href=\"https:\/\/ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA Ozone Watch<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-file-list bg-spacesuit-white padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module align wp-block-nasa-blocks-file-list\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row width-full margin-bottom-4\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\t\tDownloads\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col display-flex flex-align-center desktop:flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-row hds-file-list-row\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail hds-file-list-thumbnail\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail-inner hds-file-list-thumbnail-inner hds-cover-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/ozone-hole-reaches-its-2026-maximum\/ozone_geos5_20260918_th.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A map centered on the South Pole shows ozone concentrations on September 18, 2026. Areas at and below 220 Dobson units, the threshold that defines the ozone hole, appear in yellow, orange, and red, and cover a roughly circular region over Antarctica and part of the Southern Ocean. Higher concentrations surrounding it appear in light to dark blue.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" data-video-loop=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-details\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-name hds-file-list-name\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">September 18, 2026<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-list-date hds-file-list-date\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-file-list-filetype\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">JPEG (628.56 KB)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-cta hds-file-list-download\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a aria-label=\"Download September 18, 2026\" href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/ozone-hole-reaches-its-2026-maximum\/ozone_geos5_20260918_hires.jpg\" download rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References &#038; Resources<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NASA (2026, November 4)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/2026-ozone-hole\/\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA, NOAA Track 2026 Antarctic Ozone Hole<\/a>. Accessed November 6, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>NASA (2026)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ozonewatch.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">NASA Ozone Watch<\/a>. Accessed November 6, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>NASA Earth Observatory (2026, November)\u00a0World of Change: Antarctic Ozone Hole. Accessed November 6, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>NASA Earth Observatory (2019, September 8)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/climate-change\/ozone-layer\/2019-ozone-hole-is-the-smallest-on-record-145747\/\" rel=\"noopener\">2019 Ozone Hole is the Smallest on Record<\/a>. Accessed November 6, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>NASA Earth Observatory (2018, February 13)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/measurements-show-reduction-in-ozone-eating-chemical\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Measurements Show Reduction in Ozone-Eating Chemical<\/a>. Accessed November 6, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>NASA Earth Observatory (2009) <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/the-world-we-avoided-by-protecting-the-ozone-layer\/\" rel=\"noopener\">The World We Avoided by Protecting the Ozone Layer<\/a>.\u00a0Accessed November 6, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>Newman, P. A. <em>et al<\/em>. (2006) <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1029\/2005GL025232\" rel=\"noopener\">When will the Antarctic ozone hole recover?<\/a> <em>Geophysical Research Letters<\/em>, 33(12).<\/li>\n<li>Strahan, S. E. and Douglass, A. R. (2018) <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/2017GL074830\" rel=\"noopener\">Decline in Antarctic Ozone Depletion and Lower Stratospheric Chlorine Determined From Aura Microwave Limb Sounder Observations<\/a>. <em>Geophysical Research Letters<\/em>, 45(1), 382-390.<\/li>\n<li>World Meteorological Organization (2022) Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2022. GAW Report No. 278, 509 pp. Geneva, Switzerland.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-content-lists-inner hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-content-lists\">\n<div id=\"content-list-6835011e-f945-4560-807c-3f178c25968a\" class=\"hds-content-lists margin-y-3 padding-x-0 bg-spacesuit-white width-full maxw-full\" data-starting-query=\"{\" data-current-query=\"{\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-widescreen padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-start margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<h2 class=\"section-heading-sm line-height-sm\">You may also be interested in:<\/h2>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-2 maxh-tablet\">Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0 margin-0 flex-justify-center\">\n<div class=\" grid-col-12\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\" style=\"display: block\">\n<div id=\"filter-tags\" class=\"grid-col-12 filter-tags-container\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"smd-orbit-loader\" role=\"status\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"orbit-plane\"><span class=\"orbit-dot\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"post-list-container\" class=\"hds-content-items hds-content-items-grid margin-top-2\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-rest-url=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/smd\/v1\/content-list\">\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/an-epic-view-of-the-seasons\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/an-epic-view-of-the-seasons\/equinox_epic_20240922_th.jpg?fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&amp;%23038;w=300&amp;%23038;h=200\"><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/an-epic-view-of-the-seasons\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">An Epic View of the Seasons<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    6 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">The tilt in Earth\u2019s axis of rotation makes the apparent position of continents shift with the seasons in imagery from\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/before-the-dawn-in-americas-heartland\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/before-the-dawn-in-america%E2%80%99s-heartland\/ISS075-E-226709_th.jpg?fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&amp;%23038;w=300&amp;%23038;h=200\"><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/before-the-dawn-in-americas-heartland\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">Before the Dawn in America\u2019s Heartland<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    3 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">With hardly a cloud in sight, astronauts had a sweeping view of nighttime lights in the U.S. Midwest.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/antarctic-sea-ice-grows-to-its-2026-maximum\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/antarctic-sea-ice-grows-to-its-2026-maximum\/antarctic_nsidc_20260914_th.jpg?fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&amp;%23038;w=300&amp;%23038;h=200\"><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/antarctic-sea-ice-grows-to-its-2026-maximum\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">Antarctic Sea Ice Grows to Its 2026 Maximum<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    3 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">The ice reached its third-lowest maximum extent since satellite observations began.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"pagination-container\" class=\"pagination\">\n<nav class=\"hds-pagination hds-pagination--content-lists\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Pagination Navigation\" data-mid-size=\"2\" data-end-size=\"1\" data-max-pages=\"4\">\n<span aria-current=\"page\" class=\"page-numbers current\" aria-label=\"Current Page, Page 1\" data-page-number=\"1\"><br \/>\n<span>1<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/ozone-hole-reaches-its-2026-maximum\/#\" aria-label=\"Goto Page 2\" data-page-number=\"2\"><br \/>\n<span>2<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/ozone-hole-reaches-its-2026-maximum\/#\" aria-label=\"Goto Page 3\" data-page-number=\"3\"><br \/>\n<span>3<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/ozone-hole-reaches-its-2026-maximum\/#\" aria-label=\"Goto Page 4\" data-page-number=\"4\"><br \/>\n<span>4<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"next page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/ozone-hole-reaches-its-2026-maximum\/#\" aria-label=\"Goto Next Page\" data-page-number=\"2\">Next<\/a><br \/>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More from NASA Earth Science<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/subscribe\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/about\/NASA-EO-Logo-mediumBlue2016-stacked-mark.png?w=585&amp;h=425&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-585x425 size-585x425\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/image-of-the-day\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Earth Observatory Image of the Day<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">NASA&#8217;s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=1536&amp;h=864&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x864 size-1536x864\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/explore\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Explore Earth Science<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=1536&amp;h=1536&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/data\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Earth Science Data<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Open access to NASA\u2019s archive of Earth science data<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x768 size-1536x768\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The ozone hole ranked seventh largest by area in 48 years of monitoring, but it was not as deep as other large holes on record.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16994,21290,20368,18868,19638],"tags":[12395],"class_list":["post-596006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-earth-observatory","category-nimbus","category-noaa-20-jpss-1","category-ozone-layer","category-suomi-npp-suomi-national-polar-orbiting-partnership","tag-aura"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.5 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The ozone hole ranked seventh largest by area in 48 years of monitoring, but it was not as deep as other large holes on record.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" 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